Sarah Gardner,
General Manager, Applications and Assessment at the EPA,
said the meeting was timely because August is Bee Awareness
month.

“There is no doubt that the health of bees is
paramount,” she said. “They’re key contributors to
our economy as pollinators of our horticultural crops and
producers of our highly sought after New Zealand
honey.”

The Environmental Protection Authority works
closely with other agencies and groups to monitor the risks
of all insecticides to bees and other insects. The meeting
was an opportunity for different agencies to get together to
share their understanding of bee safety.

“We are
committed to supporting bee safety. Our scientific staff
monitor international developments in science and keep close
watch on what other regulatory bodies are doing
internationally.”

In line with overseas regulators in
the US and Europe, the EPA is updating its requirements for
applicants seeking approval to allow new pesticides to be
used in New Zealand.

“We are demanding a much higher
level of scientific evidence about the safety and effect of
such products before considering them for approval,” she
said.

The EPA has liaised closely over the past couple of
years with the National Beekeepers Association. “We value
the close working relationships we have developed with
industry groups and look forward to consolidating these
relationship at this meeting and in the future,” said Ms
Gardner.

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